THE MANGUM TRACK CLUB PROUDLY PRESENTS "THE BETHEL HILL MOONLIGHT BOOGIE" 14th Annual Event 50 miles
and the 5th Annual “BOOGIE MARATHON”
6:00 P.M. SATURDAY JUNE 14, 2008 ELLERBE, NORTH CAROLINA
COURSE DESCRIPTION: Five repeats of a 6-mile loop and a 4-mile out-and-back. All rural and all paved. There are several long hills
and some smaller ones too. This is not mountainous but is definitely not flat. The marathon course is the same as the 50 but with a short out and back at the start. For directions to the start click here.
ACCOMMODATIONS: There are plenty of motels in Rockingham and the Ellerbe Springs Inn is in Ellerbe. Since you will be running all night you may not need a room. If you do need lodging call 1-800-858-1688 for local information.
AID STATIONS: A full service aid station will be at the start/finish and will be passed at approximately 6 miles and 10 miles of each loop. Plan to carry a bottle.
CUT-OFF: I do like to let my volunteers go home at a reasonable time. They will be with us all night. Therefore, all 50-milers must start the last lap no later than 4 am. That means you have to do the first 40 miles under 10 hours. Marathoners must be finished by 3 am [9 hrs. time limit].
AWARDS: All pre-registered entrants will receive a shirt. All pre-registered finishers will receive an award. Late registrants may receive a shirt and/or an award if there are any left. Additionally, the first overall male and female in each event will get first place awards. Shirts will be presented before the race at check-in. Awards will be presented as you cross the finish line. No awards or shirts will be mailed.
GENERAL INFO: There will be no switching of events after the May 27 deadline. I buy exact number of awards and shirts for pre-registered entrants and any change would be a problem. Packet pickup will begin at 5 pm near the start. The race will start at 6 pm. Most runners will finish the first loop in daylight. All runners will be required to have a light after dark. The course is open to traffic, so the lights are not only for you to see with, but also so you can be seen. Littering upsets the race director. Leave all trash within 300 feet of the aid station. This includes empty gel packets.
MARATHONERS BEWARE: This is not your normal marathon. This is all rural, not a city marathon. The course is not certified. You will be in the middle of nowhere all the time with no porta-potties, no splits, no mile markers, no spectators, and late in the run possibly even no other runners. There are only 6 houses on the course and they have dogs. Aid stops are over 5 miles apart, so you will need to carry a water bottle. If you decide to quit, there are no pick-up vans, so you will either have to walk to the aid station or hitch a ride with somebody. The race will start at 6 pm and the temperature will probably be about 85 degrees with little shade. Darkness comes about 9 pm and there are no street lights. You will need a light for the reasons cited in the waiver. If you need to be catered to every couple of miles along the course or worry running in the dark, perhaps you should not come. We really have seen everything listed in the waiver except the polecats and they are there too. The drop out rate among veteran 50-milers is usually 40% or so. Think long and hard before you enter this event. If Lao-tzu were to give advice about this event he would say, "Come with no expectations and you will not be disappointed."
REGISTRATION: Registration is limited to the first 75 50-milers and first 75 marathoners. If the limit is reached before race day, a notice will be posted on this web site closing registration and all entries and checks received afterward will be returned. The registration fee is $50 post marked by May 27, 2008. Members of the Mangum Track Club and the Runners From Hell may register for $40 if they register before the May 27 deadline. Any entry post marked after May 27 will be considered a late entry. If the registration limit of 75 per event is not reached before race day, race day registration will be allowed for $50 also but there will be no shirts or awards unless we have pre-registered people who do not show or do not finish. Bottom line is, if shirts and awards are important, get your entry post marked by the May 27 deadline.